FAQ l What a Rescission Package Means for WXXI

The White House has called on Congress to rescind $1.1 billion in funding for public media. Once this request is formally submitted, Congress has up to 45 days to adopt or reject the request. 

1. What does the rescission mean for WXXI?

Here’s what we know:

• It’s called a “rescission” package, a rarely used method to cut federal spending.
• The specific programs targeted for rescissions have not yet been formally announced. Still it’s likely the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) – funded two years in advance – and other key public media programs that support stations will be included.
• The White House could send this plan to Congress as early as Monday, April 28, when lawmakers return from recess.
• This would start a countdown of up to 45 days for Congress to review and vote on the proposal.
• During this time, the administration can temporarily withhold any funding included in the plan.
• The funds in question are for FY26 and FY27, unrelated to any future funding beyond what was already appropriated in the recent continuing resolution.
• If Congress doesn’t approve the plan – or can’t get enough votes to pass it – the funding must be released.
• The Senate can pass it with a simple majority of just 50 votes, and Congress has the option to change what’s included.

2. What is the CPB’s role in public broadcasting?

The CPB is distinct from both NPR and PBS. It is not a broadcaster, but an independent, nonprofit organization created by Congress in 1967 with two primary functions: to serve as a firewall between partisan politics and public broadcasting and to help fund programming, stations, and technology.

Funding for CPB is established through the federal budget annual appropriations process two years in advance with the intention of insulating funding from political pressures. Its total appropriation is currently over $500 million. The CPB is responsible for allocating its funds from the federal budget in any way that fulfills its mission: to ensure universal access, over-the-air and online, to high-quality content and telecommunications services that are commercial-free and free of charge. 

NPR and PBS don’t receive direct support from the CPB; the funding goes directly to local stations so they can decide how best to program for their communities.

3. How much CPB funding does WXXI receive?

WXXI is one of the 1,300 locally and independently managed stations that are funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, in addition to NPR and PBS.

Approximately 16% of our budgeted revenue, or about $1.9M, comes from the CPB. The amount is calculated using a formula that takes into account our region’s population and how much funding WXXI is able to raise from donations by individuals and support from local businesses and organizations.

4. Why does WXXI (or any station) need federal funding?

Even though member and local business support make up the bulk of WXXI’s funding, federal funding, which costs an average of $1.60 per American per year, makes public media, as you currently know it, possible.

CPB’s investment directly supports local stations across the country and enables them to provide essential programs and services. If federal funding is eliminated, public media stations could be forced to cut some or all of the following:

• Local newsrooms and personnel providing information essential to the well-being of local communities
• Signature educational content as set forth in the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967
• Music and cultural programming
• Important public safety communications during natural disasters
• Professional development and resources for teachers

Some stations, particularly those in rural areas that secure a larger percentage of their revenue from the CPB, could even be forced off the air. In many rural communities, public media stations are the only local sources of news, weather, and emergency information.

5. What would happen if WXXI lost federal funding?

Even though it is not the largest percentage of WXXI’s overall budget, federal funding is a critical support for WXXI and many other public media organizations. Cuts to CPB funding would negatively affect WXXI’s ability to provide you and your neighbors with unique local programs and news services across many platforms, from radio to streaming, and online at WXXI.org.

While we would work diligently to maintain our current level of service, the entire public media ecosystem would be weakened, leaving communities — particularly those in non-metropolitan areas — increasingly underserved.

6. Why do public media stations like WXXI matter?

• With the number of local journalists declining nationwide and increased division and isolation in our country, independent and nonprofit public media organizations like WXXI continue to provide a high level of service to communities. In a time where anyone can post their opinion to social media, journalism grounded in rigorous fact-checking is essential to inform decisions that affect our health and safety, our finances, our democracy, and our future.
• Public media reaches 99 percent of the U.S. population geographically. Each week, 44 million Americans rely on public radio for news, according to NPR.
• We are community-driven. We are one of the last locally owned and operated media organizations remaining in this community.
• WXXI is an essential public safety partner. During emergencies, we provide 24/7 communications about severe weather, AMBER alerts, and other local emergencies.
• Teachers and parents turn to public media for free and reliable educational programming. From WXXI Education’s team to PBS KIDS, families and teachers trust public media for quality educational content. 

7. What can WXXI supporters do right now? 

We encourage you to stay informed by signing up for free alerts from the nonprofit public media advocacy organization, Protect My Public Media. There you can also call your local congressional representative and tell them why WXXI matters. 

We also encourage you to share why you value WXXI and the public media system with your friends and family, even if they don’t live here in the Rochester area. This is a national issue that affects all of us and we need advocate across the country, especially for those smaller public media organizations in rural areas. Because their federal funding makes up the largest portion of their budget, this recsission and proposed federal funding cuts would most likely cause them to close their doors.

Support from members and underwriting accounts for 54% of our revenue annually. It is critical to our sustainability and always has been. If you are already a member, thank you. Member support – especially at this time of uncertainty helps maintain the program and services you depend on.

If you are not yet a member and wish to support us, you may make a donation at WXXI.org/give.

https://www.wxxi.org/highlights/faq-l-what-a-rescission-package-means-for-wxxi/